I Want to Draw Stuff

December 29, 2011 6:17 PM

What is the coolest iPad drawing app(s)?

I got one of these for Christmas and would like to give is a spin. I have another stylus as well for fine point stuff.

I would like to be able to save and resume later and send myself drawings.

Bonus if there is a mac version as well, but not required.

posted by cjorgensen to computers & internet (11 answers total)

I like Brushes ($7.99).
posted by nostrich at 6:24 PM on December 29, 2011

Brushes is good. Veering slightly from pure drawing, Animation Desk is just excellent.
posted by ignignokt at 6:36 PM on December 29, 2011

ArtRage is incredibly cool.
posted by zachawry at 7:35 PM on December 29, 2011

(As is Doink for animation. So simple my 6-year-old loves it.)
posted by zachawry at 7:36 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]

This one... look at the examples:
Sketchbook Pro

I got it for free when I first got my iPad and use it often.
posted by bkeene12 at 7:51 PM on December 29, 2011 [1 favorite]

I love Adobe Eazel. It has a great interface, once you get used to it, and is nice for watercolor-like sketches.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 8:30 PM on December 29, 2011

I'm a huge fan of Sketchbook Pro. The interface is super intuitive and it's got a good balance of fast/easy/fun and got enough features to be work it.
posted by Gucky at 9:04 PM on December 29, 2011

I love Inkpad. It's a vector drawing app from the same guy who made Brushes. I sketch in Sketchbook pro, and use Inkpad to finish the drawings.
posted by blackunicorn at 9:16 PM on December 29, 2011

I think that Procreate is the best (with Brushes a close second). The menubar is always visible, so you don't waste time tapping on hotspots. It has less lag than other programs.

Another big part of iPad drawing is the stylus. The silver version of the 3M Smart Pen is fantastic; more sensitive and smoother than the others I've tried (Targus, Boxwave, AluPen, Adonit Jot).
posted by bonobothegreat at 9:37 PM on December 29, 2011

I bought Sketchbook Pro, Brushes, and Procreate (the last is currently on sale). I've only had time to play with the first. I am running into some difficulties figuring out how to get files back and forth and such, but so far I'm having fun. Will probably buy more and give a rundown of what I think about each.

I'm still open to suggestions.
posted by cjorgensen at 8:36 AM on December 31, 2011

As I am not artistic at all, my favorite iPad graphics program is... OmniGraffle

However, I have Sketchbook Pro for the daughter and she "likes" it, admittedly does not like the imprecision of any stylus we have tried.
posted by jkaczor at 4:39 PM on January 3, 2012